With the Kentucky Derby just a few days away, we’re beginning to see quite a few shakeups in the lineup. First it was Bob Baffert making the eyebrow raising decision to take Madaket Road out of contention and move him to the Pat Day Mile Stakes. Then we had Aron Wellman do the same for his horse Built yesterday. And now we have another exit from the race. However, this time it isn’t due to any strategic reason but rather a more unfortunate one: injury.

As always, the top contenders are putting in the hard miles during practice sessions. But the nature of any sport is that injuries are always lurking. One such incident took place earlier today, as a contender for the 2025 Kentucky Derby title, Tappan Street, suffered an unfortunate fate.

According to several reports, the Florida Derby winner, Tappan Street, has pulled out of the Kentucky Derby due to a condylar fracture in his right front foreleg. His trainer, Brad Cox, announced the news, after X-ray reports confirmed his injury. Earlier on Saturday morning, he went five furlongs in 59.60 seconds at Churchill Downs, looking in great shape, following which Cox noticed the injury.

During an interview, Cox gave details on the situation, saying, ““He has a little crack. It does require surgery and obviously he is out of the Derby.” However, Cox was certain that despite needing surgical intervention, the injury wasn’t too severe. “I really don’t think it’s a big issue. Any time you put a horse under anesthesia for surgery it’s always something but I feel pretty confident that he is going to be fine.”

Before his withdrawal from the Kentucky Derby, Tappan Street had odds of 10-1 of winning the event. However, his withdrawal has seriously boosted the chances of his rivals, namely Bob Baffert’s contenders, Rodriguez and Citizen Bull. The two had odds of 10-1 and 20-1 before Tappan Street’s withdrawal. As a result, Baffert’s chances of winning a record seven Kentucky Derby titles have received a boost. He is tied with Ben Jones for the most Kentucky Derby wins at six and has a glorious chance to leave Jones behind and make history, after being stripped of his 2021 title after Medina Spirit failed a drug test.

Meanwhile, Tappan Street isn’t the first contender to pull out of this year’s Kentucky Derby. Some big names withdrew from the grand event, with the likes of Flood Zone, Heart of Honor, and Owen Almighty all pulling out of the race on May 3. This has come as a blessing in disguise for Bob Baffert, who is making a comeback at Churchill Downs. Ahead of the Derby, he opened up about his chances of winning the title.

Bob Baffert is closer than ever to a record win

With two contenders in the fray, Bob Baffert has one of the best chances of winning this year’s Kentucky Derby. Despite his first appearance after four years, owing to his suspension, Baffert is confident about putting on a good show at Churchill Downs. During an interview, he opened up about his expectations from the race.

Baffert said, “I’m going to have fun now that everything is behind me. Going back with a live horse is more important to me. I really feel like this year I have two horses that could be in the top five, top 10. The Derby is a great experience if you have a horse that’s capable and has a chance.”

Meanwhile, Bob Baffert is looking to put behind a lengthy controversy with Churchill Downs, after his horse tested positive in 2021. “It’s going to be like I never left, because when I went back there in November, it was normal,” Baffert added, as his strong association with the event came through. With just a few days left for the Kentucky Derby, what do you think about Baffert’s chances of winning? Let us know your views in the comments below.